Chairman Prime Minister's Youth Programme, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan emphasized Pakistan's commitment to sustainable, resilient, and inclusive urban development while addressing the High-Level Meeting on the Midterm Review of the New Urban Agenda at the United Nations.
In his statement, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan described the Midterm Review as a timely opportunity to assess global progress and renew the international community's commitment to implementing the New Urban Agenda. He noted that, like many other countries, Pakistan is experiencing rapid urbanization, placing increasing pressure on housing, transportation, public safety, and environmental sustainability.
Highlighting Pakistan's ongoing efforts to address these challenges, he stated that following the devastating urban and riverine floods of 2025, which claimed more than 1,000 lives, Pakistan is working in collaboration with UN-Habitat to develop a National Urban Strategy that integrates climate resilience into urban planning and development.
He also underscored Pakistan's achievements in post-flood recovery, noting that more than 400,000 homes have been reconstructed for displaced families. He emphasized the Government's commitment to incorporating sustainable and resilient planning standards into broader national housing policies.
Speaking on urban mobility, the Chairman said Pakistan is expanding access to affordable, low-emission public transportation to promote cleaner, greener, and more accessible cities.
On social protection, he highlighted the continued expansion of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), which now serves more than nine million families across the country, while additional support is being extended to low-income households in rapidly growing urban areas.
Addressing urban security, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan noted that Safe City Authorities across Pakistan's provinces are strengthening public safety through the expansion of real-time surveillance systems and integrated command and control centres.
Emphasizing the central role of youth in Pakistan's development, he stated that with nearly 67 percent of the country's population comprising young people, creating meaningful opportunities through education, skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship is essential to ensuring that urbanization becomes a driver of economic growth and shared prosperity.
He further highlighted that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister's Youth Programme, in collaboration with its partners, has launched Uraan Pakistan to connect young people with skills development, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities.
Concluding his remarks, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan reaffirmed Pakistan's readiness to work closely with all UN Member States, share its experiences in managing rapid urbanization, and contribute to achieving practical and lasting outcomes through the Midterm Review process for the benefit of present and future generations.
